“Let me handle everything. I’m going to pack a few things. Meet me in the lobby.”
She rushed over to me and tossed her arms around my neck. My arms wrapped around her waist as she thanked me repeatedly. “You’re a good person, Truce. Please don’t let anyone change you.”
“You got it, love. Let’s go see your family.”
She released me and the tears she’d been holding on to, smiling. “I’m so ready to see them!”
I smiled, kissed her cheek, and left the room.
The excitementI felt as we cruised down the highway had me on an emotional high. I wanted to cry, smile, yell, and jump for joy all at the same time, but I got a hold of myself so I could save all of that for when I finally put eyes on my mom and sister. I could just imagine how they were going to react to seeing me, and that alone made me appreciate Truce for coming to Muskegon and making things happen for me.
This had to be God answering all of those prayers I prayed over the past year. The only downside to all of this was taking my baby away from her father, and him missing her first birthday. But then again, we never talked about plans for her turning one. Although she wouldn’t remember her first birthday, I was still going to celebrate her making it through her first year of life. Mybaby deserved the world, and I was going to give it to her no matter what it took.
At some point during the three-hour drive, I fell asleep. When I awoke, I saw the “Welcome to Detroit” sign and damn near passed out from excitement.
“Oh my God! I can't believe I’m back here. This feels so unreal, Truce.”
“Are you excited?” Truce asked me with a smirk.
“You can't tell?” I laughed, and he joined in.
“Oh, I can tell. I’m happy I could make this happen for you, Jela. I was going to do it anyway, but I was trying to wait till after baby girl’s birthday.”
“Why?”
“Just in case you needed me to mediate him seeing her on her special day. Now that I know he’s operating with malicious intent, I wouldn’t want you or her to be anywhere near him right now.”
“I’m so sorry, Truce. I wish you never saw me cry that day. Seems like you made it your mission from that day forward to protect me from the boogeyman. Now, you and the boogeyman are at war because he won’t let me go.”
“Whether it were you or someone else, I’d do the same thing. Don’t worry yourself about this. The only thing I want to see is that pretty-ass smile and tears of joy when you reunite with your family.”
A smile lifted on my face, and I pushed thoughts of Damien out of my mind. Fifteen minutes later, we were pulling in front of the colonial-style home in Rochester Hills, Michigan. I couldn’t contain myself as I opened the door before the car even pulled all the way into the driveway. There was an unfamiliar car in the driveway, but I assumed my mama had gotten a new ride.
“Slow down, shorty.” Truce chuckled, putting the car in park.
“Sorry, I just need to see them.”
“Go ahead. I got Chunks.”
“Okay!”
I got out of the car and hurried up the walkway just as an unknown man was coming out of the attached garage. I frowned at his unfamiliar face as his mirrored mine.
“Hello. Can I help you?” he asked.
“Hi. I’m looking for Draya Jackson. Does she still live here?”
“I’m sorry, who’s asking?”
“I’m her daughter, Jela.”
His eyes expanded, and he held his hand out for me to take. “Jela, I’m Al, well… Alex. I’m your mom’s husband.”
“Husband?”
“Yes. We got married four months ago. It’s so good to meet you. She talks about you all the time.”
“Oh… Wow. Is she inside?”
